Comments on: Major General J.E.B. Stuart: Last Stand of the Last Knight

By: Paul Taggart

Paul Taggart — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 23:14:25 +0000

Please note that I copied and pasted from as PDF scan of the book and the OCR function changed some of the text. The date was May 11, 1864 (not 65) and the soldier who shot was Shedrick L. Pealer (not Shedrick L. Fealer).

By: Paul Taggart

Paul Taggart — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 22:40:12 +0000

In the "Regimental History of the First New York Dragoons" (the proper name of the 19th NY Cav) written by Rev. J. R. Bowen in 1900 there is and eyewitness report of the killing of General Stuart that is much more believable than a 400 yard pistol shot. Captain Andrew J. Leach wrote:
" After this I don't recall anything out of the routine
until we reached Yellow Tavern, where a brisk and stubborn
fight ensued. At Yellow Tavern, May 11, 1865, the
First New York Dragoons were deployed upon a road
with a battery of artillery on our right. In front of
our line, some eighty or one hundred rods away, was a
farmhouse with the usual outhouses and negro quarters,
and approached by a lane formed on each side by an
ordinary rail fence; the buildings being upon a little elevation,
and hiding us from the Confederate line of battle.
General Sheridan, coming along our line, asked me if I
could reach those buildings and occupy them; see what
the ^Confederates were doing, their number, etc., and if
anything special, report to him.
"I took some twenty men, directing them to keep
behind the fences so as not to attract attention, while I
went up the lane. Arriving at the house, the Confederate
line was plainly in view, occupying the fields along
a piece of woods, and a few were working toward the
buildings, evidently intending to occupy them; but a few
shots sent them skeltering back to their lines.
"While I was viewing their lines, my men called my
attention to a rider upon a white horse, evidently an
officer of rank, who was riding along their lines, seemingly
superintending their formation. One of my men,
Shedrick L. Fealer, called my attention to him particularly,
and said, 'I will try him a shot;' and resting his
carbine across the corner of one of the huts, elevated the
sights, and fired. The officer fell, and created general
confusion, which could be plainly seen from our position;
and that part of their line moved back into the woods and
out of sight.
" I reported what I had seen to General Sheridan in
person, the men were soon recalled, and the fight ceased.
"I afterward learned that Gen. J. E. B. Stuart rode
such a white horse, and was killed that day, and it was
reported through Confederate sources that Stuart was
struck by a ' chance shot ; ' but I have always believed
that it was the shot of Pealer that killed him. As further
confirmation, it is well known that he was killed in front
of our line, and killed by our regiment. Other members
of my squad fired at this same officer, but none seemed so
deliberate as this; and the fall was noticed immediately
after the shot. I was certain at the time that that shot
killed the officer, but I did not realize or even know then
that it was Stuart, the famous cavalry leader, as I had
not learned that he rode a white horse. It is certain that
thereafter we saw no more of a conspicuous officer on a
white horse.
" Shedrick L. Pealer was killed at Cold Harbor, May
31, 1864, and we lost one of the bravest and best of
soldiers.

By: Tom Jefferson

Tom Jefferson — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:35:46 +0000

I don't know if Longacre is a bigger fool for believing that Huff made an accurate shot from 400 yards with .44 or for printing it. The 5th Michigan was in retreat according to eye witnesses. I know these were Southeners so the elite discount their testimony. The shot was made from 20-30 FEET! It has never been proven that it was Huff that made the shot.However, he didn't make it past Battle of Haw's Shop.

By: MEAGAN

MEAGAN — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:38:57 +0000

I AGREE WITH EMMA YOU SHOULDNT BE MEAN AND ROBERT IS RIGHT YOU CANT SHOOT 400 YARDS WITH A PISTOL THANK YOU FOR THE HELP WITH MY ESSAY :)

By: emma

emma — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:31:55 +0000

you alex person you shouldnt be mean to the people who spent so much time and effort on this and to the people who published the artical , thank you it really helped me with my project!

By: Robert E. Hurst

Robert E. Hurst — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:18:01 +0000

I believe there is a serious error in the article. Huff shot Stuart from a distance of 40 yds, not 400. With a pistol, even 40 yds is a very fine shot, but 400 yds with a pistol is impossible, even for a sharpshooter.

By: alex

alex — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:56:37 +0000

would you please make this answer the question you posted on the website get a life please

By: alex

alex — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:55:04 +0000

um well not enough information and why are words highlighted this didnt even answer my question it sucks

By: Elizabeth LeBlanc

Elizabeth LeBlanc — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:40:48 +0000

Ten years ago my husband,Willliam, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and our son,Daniel,helped us to move to Richmond to rent a house ,three
blocks west of the J.E.B. Stuart monument. Two years ago William died of the effects of that terrible disease. I stayed on here on Francis Road .
.I believe I live right on the battlefield of Yellow Tavern. I oftenwalk to the J.E.B. Stuart monument three blocks east
with my little dog"Rosie", and we climb the steps to sit on the bench in the peaceful little park by the white monument . Its inscription is truer, I
believe, than what many give it true credit for. "He Saved Richmond," and indeed Stuart did –that May day, "On this high ground" So tragic– to lose
such a brave good intelligent man to the violent chances of war.So many brave young men died here–. So many many good young men .
I also believe that this old house is haunted by those who died here 144 years ago; Locked doors open with no fingers
twisting the knobs; strange sounds: clicks and thuds and metallic ringings are heard –both by me and by little Rosie who always sleeps with her ears
perked toward the kitchen. She lifts up at these unexplainable disturbances and then lies back down again, as if to say "Oh, it's only the
boys–coming home late again."
Oh, how I wish it was the all boys– coming home again to live out the lives they all lost too soon in all the wars we've lost, or won.

By: Elizabeth LeBlanc

Elizabeth LeBlanc — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:31:31 +0000

Ten years ago my husband,Willliam, was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and our son,Daniel,helped us to move to Richmond to rent a house ,three
blocks west of the J.E.B. Stuart monument. Two years ago William died of the effects of that terrible disease. I stayed on here on Francis Road .
.I believe I live right on the battlefield of Yellow Tavern. I often walk to the J.E.B. Stuart monument three blocks
east with my little dog"Rosie", and we climb the steps to sit on the bench in the peaceful little park by the white monument . Its inscription is
truer, I believe, than what many give it true credit for. "He Saved Richmond," and indeed Stuart did –that May day, "On this high ground" So
tragic– to lose such a brave good intelligent man to the violent chances of war.So many brave young men died here–. So many many good young men.I
also believe that this old house is haunted by those whoe died here 144 years ago; Locked doors open with no fingers twisting the knobs; strange
sounds: clicks and thuds and metallic ringings are heard –both by me anf by little Rosie who alwats sleeps with her ears perked toward the kitchen.
She lifts up at these unexplainable disturbances and then lies back down again, as if to say "Oh, it's only the boys–coming home late again."
Oh, how I wish it was the all boys– coming home again to live out the lives they all lost too soon in all the wars we've lost, or won.

live in an old house, and believe it is haunted by the ghosts of the many men who died here 146 years ago.Locked doors open with no hand to twist the
knobs. Strange thuds and ringing sounds are heard at night; Rosie sleeps on the couch with her ears always on the ready andraises her head at the
unexplained sounds but then lies peacefully back down.Maybe she thinks "Oh, it's only them again those who died then .I mourn them too, and all we
have lost in subsequent wars. So many so many brave young valiant men. .